May the best person win

Is competition getting to you? Here's how to deal with it

Dipti Nagpaul

In today's highly competitive world – when success and fame are often valued over relationships – N C Karunya and Sandeep Acharya, the finalists from Sony television's reality show, Indian Idol 2, have set an excellent example. Despite vying with each other for the much-sought title, they haven't let this affect their friendship. Throughout the competition, they've pointed out each other's strengths and weaknesses, backing each other up, when appropriate.
Even at the crux, they challenged each other's capabilities without lashing out – a rare sight indeed, in today's cut-throat world.

Competition at the workplace is not uncommon. What is not-so-common, though, is ensuring that this doesn't take an ugly turn – where competitors are considered enemies. According to Dr Anil Naik, management consultant and professor emeritus, Wellingkar Institute, the problem arises when one makes success a personal issue. "Often, colleagues forget that competition is based on capability. Whoever is better will emerge as the winner. They should stop equating this with one-upmanship," he explains.

It seems ironic that the word 'compete' comes from the Latin competere, meaning "to seek together". Today, we seem to define it as striving for an objective (position, profit, prize) with no thought of togetherness – except a shared sense of conflict or opposition. What we often forget is that healthy competition actually helps us better ourselves. Music director and one of the Indian Idol 2 judges, Anu Malik believes competitors can not only respect each other's capabilities but also learn from each other: "Karunya and Sandeep are setting an excellent example. Both have seen many ups and downs together and this has helped them bond. They keep their professional and personal lives separate and do not allow jealousy to set in. They praise or criticise each other openly, when deserved, and this helps them recognise their capabilities, correct their faults and move forward."

So what is it that can turn competition toxic? There are several elements, including the following:

• an attitude of one-upmanship

• incompatible ideas of acceptable behaviour

• situations where success is solely defined by the outcome, rather than the process

• a mindset that disregards integrity.

But how can one avoid this?
Choreographer and fellow-judge Farah Khan feels confidence in one's own capabilities is the key for keeping unhealthy competition at bay. "If you know you're good, but look at competition as a source for feedback and improvement, you won't fall prey to this. One should learn how to be both good loser and gracious winner," she elaborates. However, according to Naik, even the organisation/ judges play an important role. So here are his guidelines to keep competition healthy: